
After our time in Livingstone came to an end (see part 2; The Tongabezi Experience), it is off to Zambia's famed Lower Zambezi valley, home to amazing wildlife and the Lower Zambezi National Park. Taking in some canoeing on the Zambezi River while staying at Sausage Tree Lodge and Old Mondoro.
Sausage Tree Camp is set in a stunning location on the banks of the Zambezi River, in the Lower Zambezi National Park. This is in the heart of the best game viewing area. The camp and very welcoming pool overlook many narrow channels teeming with game, offering the amazing Zambezi escarpment as the backdrop.

We enjoyed boat cruises, sundowners, day and night game drives, an early morning canoe amongst hippos and crocs, tiger fishing and even a surprise lunch in the Zambezi River.
Sausage Tree also offers walks with highly skilled and trained rangers. Elephants are seen in camp on a daily basis. Game viewing is excellent, with an extremely high chance of spotting wild dog, leopard, lion, hippo and buffalo, to name but a few, during your stay.
After returning from our morning canoe excursion on our first morning - hot and exhausted - we were told we would be "going out" for lunch. Obviously, we were all a bit dumb-struck, like where does one "go out" for lunch in the Lower Zambezi? So we all boarded our boat, and as we turned the first bend, we couldn't believe what we saw, a table, chairs, barbeque, drinks table and shaded thatch enclosure all set up IN the Zambezi River. The camp crew were all standing ankle-deep waiting for us, cocktails in hand. And so we sat ankle-deep in the Zambezi and enjoyed our delicious barbeque and cocktails. This was most definitely one of the highlights of my trip, one which I will remember forever!

Sausage Tree Camp is an ideal family-friendly as well as a Honeymoon destination; there is something here for everyone.
Old Mondoro; From Sausage Tree to Old Mondoro, it is an approx. A 45-minute boat ride, although that definitely depends on how many times you stop to take pictures!
Old Mondoro (the Shona word for lion is Mondoro and the name Old Mondoro derives from the local legend of an old, white lion that used to frequent the area) is one of the most intimate and private safari camps in the Lower Zambezi, offering only 8 beds.

On our afternoon arrival at the camp, we soon embarked on a game drive which quickly turned into a night drive after we had stopped on the banks to enjoy our sundowners. We were extremely lucky with our sightings, having spotted two young male lions, three porcupines (my first ever sighting), hippos running amok, buffalo, five genets, as well as a bushbaby which we were told was the first sighting in two seasons!
Other activities on offer include canoeing, game viewing by motorboat, tiger-fishing (catch and release), as well as bush walks - there are some excellent walking areas right from the camp, and I've been told this is the best walking area in the Lower Zambezi.

It is a very rustic camp - quite different from the likes of Sausage Tree where we had just come from - with no electricity (paraffin lamps bring the camp alive after dark), offering a fantastic "back to basics" experience. If you need your hairdryer, then perhaps this is not the camp for you.
The Lower Zambezi Experience by Uyaphi.com
- Kapinga Camp
Kapinga Camp is situated in the extreme north of the Kafue National Park, and in the north-west corner of the Busanga Plains.
The camp has been designed to blend in with the environment and natural products have been used as much as possible in the construction of the camp.
- Nsolo Camp
Nsolo Camp is one of the more historic camps in Zambia. It was cited by Norman Carr in 1987 and Shaddy, the Camp Manager and guide has been studying the wildlife and conducting walking safaris from this camp for over 10 years.
One of the more remote camps in the South Luangwa.
- Mukambi Safari Lodge
Mukambi Safari Lodge offers guests a safari experience in the Kafue National Park's central region, a region famed for excellent wildlife and birdlife.
Located on the banks of the Kafue River, Mukambi offers game drives, walking safaris, fishing excursions, boat and sunset cruises.
- Shumba Camp
Shumba Camp is situated in the northern region of the Kafue National Park, in the famed Busanga Plains area.
The Plains, covering approximately 750 square kilometres, is considered one of Zambia's most important wetlands as well as a wildlife paradise with a wealth of plains game, predators and birds.
- Puku Ridge Camp
Puku Ridge Camp has a very intimate atmosphere and combines an authentic safari experience under canvas with panoramic views over the abundant South Luangwa floodplain below.
Each of the seven oversized tents has picture windows out onto the floodplain over a private viewing deck.
- Kaingu Lodge
Kaingu Lodge offers guests a choice of six tented suites and one family house, a small and intimate lodge that is owner run and managed that is perfect for couples, honeymoons and families alike.
The lodge is set in a pristine wilderness on the banks of the Kafue River with views into National park itself.